The cries from Zhao Kang's courtyard still echoed faintly behind her, but Yue Zilan had already left the scene. She slipped out of the crowd as though she had never been there, her calm steps blending into the flow of townsfolk along the busy street.
Her expression did not change, but her eyes had caught something unusual. Among the spectators earlier, someone had not been watching the chaos. He had been watching her.
Without giving any sign, Zilan walked away naturally. She let the man think she hadn't noticed. When he finally turned to leave, she followed from a distance.
Her pace was unhurried, her steps so light that no sound echoed against the stones. Like a drifting shadow, she kept just far enough behind him, her gaze steady. After some time, she watched as the man walked directly to the tall doors of the Tianyun Pavilion.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"So, it really is your people keeping watch," she murmured softly. Then, with no further hesitation, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, her figure fading like mist.
---
Inside the Tianyun Pavilion, the second floor was quiet, filled with the faint fragrance of burning incense. Behind a heavy wooden desk sat Su Jingyuan, his fine azure robes giving him a calm but commanding presence.
Before him, Steward Zhao bowed with a grave expression. His tone was cautious as he spoke.
"Young Master, I know this will sound unbelievable, but I must report it. The girl we've been monitoring—her actions are far too suspicious. I believe… it is possible her hands were involved in Zhao Kang's disappearance."
Su Jingyuan lifted his gaze, scrutinizing him. His eyes, sharp as a blade, seemed to cut straight through.
"You think a young girl could accomplish all of this?" he asked lightly, though his voice carried weight.
Steward Zhao lowered his head further. He hesitated, his thoughts swirling.
But these thoughts could not be spoken aloud. To describe them would sound absurd, even laughable. He could only sigh inwardly, keeping his silence.
At last he said, "Young Master, I cannot prove it yet, but I am certain she is not ordinary."
Su Jingyuan leaned back, his expression calm, his tone cold.
"If she is suspicious, then why are you wasting time here? Immediately capture her. Investigate the matter thoroughly. Handle it personally—you know how important this is."
"Yes, Young Master." Steward Zhao bowed deeply, then stepped back with a solemn face.
---
Outside, the streets were already dim as dusk spread across the town. The crowds thinned, lanterns flickered to life, and a cool breeze whispered through the alleys.
A lone guard in black clothing walked briskly through a narrow valley-like passage, his steps steady and quiet. His destination was a small hut at the far end, where he was supposed to deliver his gathered information.
His mind was calm, already rehearsing the report he would give. But just as he neared the hut, he felt a faint prick on the side of his neck. It was no more than the sting of an insect bite.
He frowned and lifted a hand to touch the spot.
Before his fingers could even reach it, his vision spun. The stones beneath his feet seemed to tilt, and his legs weakened without warning.
"What—" The word never left his mouth.
His knees gave way, his body slumped forward, and he collapsed heavily against the ground. The sound was soft, muffled by the silence of the empty passage.
His eyes fluttered once, then closed. Darkness swallowed him whole.
Not far away, in the shadows of the alley, a figure watched quietly. The faint light of a lantern brushed against a face that curved with the smallest of smiles.
After half an hour, a painful, horrifying scream erupted from the secluded hut. It tore through the night air, echoing like the wails of a man dragged into hell. The sound lasted a long while before it finally quieted, leaving behind only heavy, uneven breathing.
Inside the hut, the guard stirred, his mind caught between confusion and dread. His eyes snapped open, only to freeze at the sight before him.
The girl he had been secretly investigating stood there, her lips curved into a beautiful, chilling smile. She was close—too close.
A shiver shot down his spine. His limbs refused to obey him; no matter how desperately he willed his body to move, it was as though he had been bound by invisible chains.
Before he could speak, Yue Zilan reached forward. Her slender fingers grasped his hand, and with frightening calmness, she began to dislocate his fingers one by one.
"Ahhh—!" His scream ripped through his throat, echoing in the hut. The agony was unbearable, each pop of his joints sounding louder than thunder in his ears.
Sweat drenched his forehead, his vision blurred from the pain. Yet, above it all, a single bitter thought hammered in his mind: That damned steward… he's the one who got me into this mess.